Trade funk; for that was manifeftly and wonderfully increased. It could not be because the Eaft-India Company, as a Company, fent out lefs Cloth than was sent for India in the open Trade: For the Entries at the Cuftom-Houfe will evidence, that the Company, fince their laft Incorporation have sent out, in fome one Year, above ten times as much Cloth, as was ever fent out in the Time of open Trade. But why then did they complain? Really I cannot tell; but peradventure their Council aforefaid, or fome Turkey Merchants, their Cuftomers, might inform them, that if the Trade of India were open, there would be a new World for Cloth, that would vent as much as the old World. And if they had any Dutch or French Cuftomers, no Queftion they would not be backward to encourage fo good a Work.

13. The Eaft-India Trade is more profitable and neceffary to the Kingdom of England, than to any other Kingdom or Nation in Europe.

The Trade of India is to England, not only a great, but an unmixed Advantage. Whereas to all our Neigh- Page 39. bours, tho' the Trade of the Eaft-Indies be a great Advantage, and accordingly courted and coveted by them; yet they cannot have it without fome Mixture of Lofs in other Refpects; because fome of them have the Growth and Production of Silk among themfelves. They have likewise the fole Manufacture of plain Silk, fuch as Taffeties, Sarcanetts, &c. which are brought from India cheaper than they can make them at home. Whereas in England, our Silk Manufacture confifts in flowered Silks and Fancies, ftill changed as often as the Fashion See Holland, Flanders, (and France, in fome Mea- Ch. 87. fure) have their principal Manufactures in fine Linens, §. 6---9. Cambricks, Lawns, and Hollands, which only Callicoe works upon. Whereas the Linen we make in England, is of the ftrong coarfe Sorts, generally ufed by meaner People; which Callicoe doth not prejudice to any fenfible Degree. Neither is the Linen Manufacture in England' a Matter worth taking Notice of P (whatever a few See Gentlemens Opinion is.) But in Holland, Flanders, Ch. 135. France, and fome Parts of Germany, it is their main §. 3. Note. Concern; being the Subfiftence of the Majority of the People, as the Woolen Manufacture is in England.

14. The

14. The Dutch have a ftanding Contract with the King of Perfia for all his Silk, which may amount to 600 Bales yearly. Now in regard, Bengal Silk in the Eaft-Indies, can be brought cheaper to Europe than Perfia Silk: The Dutch, by bringing Silk from Bengal, muft of Neceffity, in fome Kind, prejudice that Contract, in the Price of Silk, although it be the Dutch Companies own Contract, as well as the Turkey Merchants. Whereas we having no fuch Contract in Perfia, do not work upon ourselves as they muft of NecefPage 40. fity: And yet they are wifer thaa to flight the Trade of Bengal for that Caufe. This Argument concerning the Dutch Contract in Perfia, is fo fully confirmed by the Companies Advices, lately received from Perfia, that the Dutch there did lately defire to be excufed from receiving their Quota of Silk, which is 600 Bales yearly, upon Pretence of their Want of Money to pay for it; which notwithstanding was forced on them by Sheeke Ally Cawne the Emperor's Governor there.

15. If it be here asked me, why the English Eaft-India Company, feeing Perfia is within their Charter, are not as wife as the Dutch, to make a Contract likewise with the King of Perfia? I answer, the Dutch got the Start of us in that, long before this Company was constituted, and we cannot poffibly retrieve it yet: The Perfians being a People most difficult to be removed from what they have once determined.

16. If it be further retorted upon me, that by my own Confeffion, the Importation of Silk from India, doth prejudice the English Turkey Merchants in the Price of their Silk here, I grant it: But what is that to England in general? It's the Intereft of England, that we fhould have Silk here (being a Material to be manufactured) cheaper than in any other Part of Europe where it grows; and fo we fhall infallibly, if the Company stand. But at the fame Time, I do exprefsly deny that the making of Silk cheap in England, doth hinder the Exportation of our Woolen Manufacture to Turkey : The contrary being as evident as the Sun at Noon Day, as before is demonstrated in these two pregnant Inftances experienced and unanfwerable, viz. That as the Price of Portugal Sugars hath abated (in which formerly almoft all our Returns from that Country, were made) we

have

have increased exceedingly in the Exportation of Wooler. Manufactures to that Country; and even in our Trade to Turkey itself for many Years: And to this very Time, as the Price of Turkey Silk hath abated, the Exportation of our Woolen Manufacture hath increased; and so it will ftill, though Silk fhould come to half the Price it bears now in England. Upon the Proof whereof, by a Ch. 122. Time, I dare hazard all that little I have in the World . §. 3, 4Befides, when all is done; and if the Turkey Merchants Ch. 101. might have their Will, to the irreparable Damage of their §. 3. Ch. 102. common Country, what would they be better? except by an Act of Parliament we could as well hinder the 5. Note. §. French, Dutch, and other Neighbours, from trading in Ch. 103. §. 7. Note. Eaft-India Silk, as we can the Eaft-India Company. §. 5. Note. Is not this dealing our Childrens Bread to Strangers? weakening ourselves, and ftrengthening our Enemies, whilft they laugh and stand amazed at our Indifcretion.

tryi

17. If notwithstanding all that hath been faid, the Company must be deftroyed. God's Will be done. To write what I have, I thought my Duty to my Country; which having fatisfied myfelf in the Performance of, I am not careful for Events; being always confident, that whatever the Parliament does, they will do it juftly; and fo wifely as to make the best of a bad Bargain. L am perfuaded the Dutch, to have this Feat done, would ease our Lands a while, by giving us a Million of Pounds Sterling, if they knew where to find Chapmen (which God grant they never may) and I am fure if they did pay two Millions', they would have too good a Bargain of it.

Ch. 79. §. 17.

СНАР.

Scotifh

Acts from James I. to 1702 inclufive.

CHA P. LXXI.

A Reprefentation of the Advantages from erecting and improving of Manufactories, more especially that of Woolen Cloth; with an Anjwer to the Objections against this laft; and an Account of the prefent State and Succefs of the Manufactory at New Milnes for Woolen Cloth, Serges, Silk and Worsted Stockins, and of the Rules and Methods obferved by the Undertakers in the managing of it; with Proposals to fuch as shall be willing to join in that Work. Edinburgh printed, 1693.

I.

"How ManuOW great Inclinations our Kings have had, ever fince the Year 1581, to encourage factories in this Kingdom, may appear by the feveral Acts of Parliament, and Council, fince that Time; fome whereof are narrated in the 40th Act of the first Parliament, Seff. 1. Charles II. And in no Age did the Zeal of the Nation appear more for erecting of Manufactories and Societies, than fince his Majefties happie Reftauration: As is evident by the forefaid* 40th and

42d,

* That no Native or Stranger export Wool, nor Skins with Wool upon them, until made in Work, under the Pain, &c. That none foreftall the Mercat of Wool, nor keep up the fame to a Dearth, under the Pain against Regraters; declaring always, that the Exchequer may license the Export of Wool and Skins, as they fhall fee 'Cause. Car. II. Parl. 1. Seff. 1. c. 40. The Act is, At for erecting of Manufactories.' Abridgment of the Scotish Acts. By Sir James Stewart, 1702.

Ifball here infert the rest of the Scotish Acts on this fame Head.

That no Wool be tranfported out of the Kingdom, un⚫der the Pain of Confifcation thereof, and of the whole remanent Goods of the Owners and Tranfporters; and

that

42d, 43d, 45th, 46th, 47th, and 48th, Acts of that Seffion of his Majefties first Parliament, and by the 20th Act of the 3d Seff. of the fame Parliament.

2. But the effectual and ferious Profecution of these former Laws, was reserved for the Years of his Royal Highneffes Commiffion.

3. We

that no Licence be granted contrary to this Act; but that 'the Purchasers and Ufers thereof incur the fame Pains. James VI. Parl. 7. c. 113. N. B. This Act is against the Excess of coftly Cleithing, &c.

This Prohibition is fubjoined to the Regulation then made of Mens Apparel.

That Wool be not tranfported to England, nor fold to any Englishman in Scotland or England, who transports the fame to England, under the Pain of Escheat thereof, and of all the Moveables of the actual Transporters, as ⚫ alfo of the Caufers and Sellers thereof to be transported, Half to the King, and Half to the Apprehender, and Warding for fix Months, and otherwife at the King's • Will, annulling all Licences either granted, or to be granted. James VI. Parl. 12. c. 151.

Thefe Acts ratified, and all Licences in the contrary discharged; and the King promifes to grant no fuch Licences for hereafter. James VI. Parl. 15. c. 250.'

All thefe (in the Time of James VI. during the Reign of Queen Elizabeth) to oblige the Scots to wear their own Manufacture, of their own Produce. (See above N. B.)

Act ratifying all former Acts against the Exportation of • Wool, and Skins with Wool on them, Scots or foreign, or Worfted, or Woollen Yearn, under moft ftrict Pains: And the Act is full and particular as to the Execution : But only to endure for five Years, and to the End of the 6 next Seffion of Parliament thereafter inclufive.'

Item. The Importation of English or Irish Wool is forbidden under the like Penalties, 'till the firft of January 1702; but the Prohibition of the Export of English or Irish Wool is only to indure to the End of the next * Seffion of Parliament inclufive.' Will. Parl. 1. Seff. 9.

c. 9.

* The Duke of York went first to Scotland, O&ober 27, Rapin, 1679. He was in England, Feb. 24, 1679-80; departed vol. 2. again for Scotland, Oct. 20, 1680. As the King's High Commiffioner, opened a Parliament there, July 28, 1681.

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